Eurocup 2012-13, Group C analysis and quotes

Le Mans Sarthe BasketIt was one game away from reaching the 2012-13 Turkish Airlines Euroleague and now Le Mans Sarthe Basket wants to bounce back to reach high in the Eurocup. Playmaker Khalid El-Amin and center JP Batista are its main pillars but Le Mans is much more than that. Cam Long, Charles Kahudi and Pape Sy add athleticism and quickness at both wings, Alain Koffi and Cuthbert Victor are reliable options under the baskets and Le Mans has the experience to fight for interesting goals.

BC Triumph LyubertsyIts nice mix of young talent and ambition allowed BC Triumph Lyubertsy to reach the 2012-13 Eurocup. Triumph managed to keep star youngster Sergey Karasev but scoring guard Tywain McKee and big man Kyle Landry are back, too. Triumph brought in former team captain Sergey Toporov, forward Tasmin Mitchell and playmaker Yuval Naimy to stay competitive. It will now try to do what it did in the Russian League last season - take one game at the time and be really solid in front of its fans.

VEF RigaAlready established as the team to beat in Latvia, VEF Riga was to extend that success to the 2012-13 Eurocup. As always, VEF has some of the best Latvian players such as Kristaps Janicenoks, Kaspars Berzins and Dairis Bertans. The club surrounded them with plenty of talent - playmaker E.J Rowland, big man Antanas Kavaliauskas, Eurocup winner Donatas Zavackas, guard Luke Loucks and power forward Will Daniels. VEF wants to reach the Last 16 but it will be first goal, not the definitive one.

Artland Dragons QuakenbruckAfter a three-season hiatus, Artland Dragons Quakenbruck returns with a very balanced team ready to battle for a Last 16 spot - and then take it from there. Artland signed two experienced players in former Eurocup champion Demond Mallet and Kristaps Valters, athletic swingmen Sergio Kerush and Marquez Haynes, as well as a reliable frontline in Guido Grunheid, Anthony King and another former Eurocup champ, Petar Popovic. Expect Artland to be ready to battle from Game 1.

QUOTES

Artland Dragons general manager Alexnader Meilwes:
"It is quite an interesting group, we are going to play against Triumph for the third time in a row and we are all looking forward to the upcoming season. The competition is probably stronger than ever. We played the Eurocup three times and it's a big challenge for us to try to survive this regular season group."